The sighting of endangered Indian Skimmer birds along a 60-km stretch of the Ganga under the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bhagalpur district after nearly 20 years has highlighted significant improvement in the river’s ecological health.
About Indian Skimmer:
The Indian skimmer, also known as the Indian scissor-bill, is a specialised riverine bird species.
It is known for its unique feeding behaviour of flying low over water and skimming the surface with its elongated lower mandible to catch fish.
Scientific Name: Rynchops albicollis
Habitat and Distribution:
It was formerly widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent but it is presently confined only to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar.
The species primarily inhabits large, sandy, lowland rivers, lakes, and adjacent marshes.
During the non-breeding season, it is found in estuaries and coastal areas.
Most breeding colonies are now confined to rivers such as the Chambal, Ganges,Yamuna, Mahanadi, and Son, with additional records from Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.
It is recognised as an indicator species of healthy riverine ecosystems.
Features:
It is easily identifiable by its drooping, bright orange bill, where the lower mandible extends farther than the upper.
It has a distinctive black cap, black mantle, and black wings, which contrast sharply with its white underparts.
In flight, it displays a white trailing edge on its wings and a short, forked tail with blackish central feathers.
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